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Aqua Dam Flood Control Product Page

Background Information and Challenge

Each year lakefront home and cottage owners in Ontario face off with the forces of Mother Nature. Spring flooding and significant rain events are becoming more common and with construction of homes and cottages in close proximity to water bodies make these locations vulnerable to variable water levels. Home owners often are left to fend for themselves without insurance coverage to protect their properties from rising waters at significant risk and expense. Often property owners will use sandbags which in some cases are provided by the municipalities to create temporary flood control berms which require significant time, labor and money to construct. Once the high water conditions subsides there is significant clean up required to return the sand and bags back to landfill as this material can be classified as contaminated soil.

The owner faced a similar each year. The picturesque lakefront property on Young Lake in Sebright Ontario was often threatened by high water levels during spring thaw. Each year the owner would enlist the forces of their children and neighbors to construct a flood control barrier using hundreds of sand bags. On average it takes approximately 4500 sandbags to build a 3’ high x 100’ long sand bag coffer dam. In 2014 the owner was introduced to Aqua Dam® Rapid Response System which was on display at Battlefield Equipment Rentals in Bracebridge, Ontario. They reached out to Layfield to collect more information on the system and assessed the property for feasibility and budget for supply and installation of an Aqua Dam® Flood control system. The 2014 water levels receded with no longer a flood concern and life returned to normal.

During Spring of 2016 the lake levels once again returned to threatening levels and the threat of flooding was once again present. The owner dreaded the idea of once again having to construct another sand bag coffer dam to protect their home, not to mention the significant labor, cost and time off work required to build the temporary dam. They decided this time around to contact their local AquaDam® Application Specialist and inquired about the availability of flood control dams to protect their home.

March 31, 2016 Timeline of Events

10:45am Owner contact Layfield and inquired about Aqua Dam® Flood Control System. A preliminary discussion about feasibility, urgency, and site condition took place with Darlene and Layfield Aqua Dam® Application Specialist. An Aqua Dam® Assessment form was provided to Darlene

12:00pm The Aqua Dam® Assessment form was completed and return to Layfield for review

12:30pm Layfield Aqua Dam® Application Specialist reviewed the application and provided a quotation for supply and installation services for approx. 150’ of 3’ high Aqua Dam®

1:30pm The client placed the order with Layfield

2:30pm Layfield installation crews mobilized to site which was approx. 90min north of Toronto with necessary fuel, 3’ Gas Powered Pumps and Aqua Dam® Flood Control Dams required to protect the home

4:00pm Layfield Rapid Response crews arrived on site and began deployment

6:30pm Flood Control Aqua Dam® were installed on site and protecting the home.

Midnight April 1, 2016– A significant Thunderstorm and rainfall event passed through the Orillia area during the evening. There was 8” of water up against the Aqua Dam® the next day that would otherwise have flooded the owners basement.

Solution and Results

Layfield Aqua Dam® Rapid Response crews treat emergency flood situations with priority. In this case within 4 hours time from client contacting Layfield and completion of the Aqua Dam® application assessment form, the system was delivered to site and deployed to defend the home from rising water levels. We encourage flood risk property owners assess their sites for feasibility of Aqua Dam® to help protect their property. The Aqua Dam® is a site specific flood control tool which is designed to be installed by owner in advance of approaching high water. Having an action response plan in place with an Aqua Dam® on site will increase your chances to successfully defend against the effects from flooding. If you live in a vulnerable area which may be subject to flooding we highly recommend contacting Layfield and completing the Aqua Dam® assessment form to assess the site suitability for an Aqua Dam® Flood Control System.